Mozambique is consolidating its position as one of the main chicken producers in Southern Africa, behind only South Africa. The country currently produces about 147,000 tonnes of chicken, surpassing countries such as Zimbabwe, Malawi and Tanzania. This position was secured thanks to a number of factors, including the increase in the number of poultry farmers, the expansion of poultry houses and the protection of the market against chicken smuggling.
According to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Celso Correia, Mozambique's livestock sector grew by 9% between 2021 and 2022, the biggest growth in a decade. These figures reflect the efforts of small and large producers in Mozambique, together with the factors that drove the increase in production.
With the reduction in chicken imports, which now account for only 2% of the chicken consumed in the country, the aim is to achieve full self-sufficiency and begin exporting within the next two years. In addition, egg production has also grown in Mozambique, rising by 7.2% between 2021 and 2022.
Maputo Province leads egg production, with more than 10 million dozen, followed by Manica with nine million and Nampula with three million dozen. The increase in egg production was driven mainly by policies to control and combat smuggling, encouraging investment by the private, family and commercial sectors in egg production.
These figures are a major boost for the Mozambican economy, which is working to increase its domestic production and reduce its dependence on imports. The growth of the livestock sector is an important step towards achieving food self-sufficiency and boosting the country's economic development.
